Difference Between MP and MLA

MP stands for Member of Parliament and MLA stands for Member of Legislative Assembly. The difference between MP and MLA lie in the structure of governance of India and in their representation system. The Indian system of governance has four structures; the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assembly and State Legislative Council. A member of parliament (MP) is an elected representative of the people in the Lok Sabha or a Member of the Rajya Sabha elected by the legislative assembly of each state through proportional representation. Of course, there can be a few members in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha nominated by the President.

A member of legislative assembly (MLA) is a representative elected by the people to the State legislative assembly. A MP represents a larger constituency than a MLA. It is important to know that each state has between 4 and 9 MLAs for every MP.

The Indian constitution clearly defines the distribution of powers between the Union and the States. The State Legislature has the power to make laws on all items in the state list, on which Parliament cannot legislate law such as police, prisons, irrigation, agriculture, local governments and public health. However, both Parliament and states assembly can make laws on some items such as education, protection of natural resources like forests, water source and protection of wild life. Similarly, both involve in the process of electing the President of India. Also some part of the constitution can be amended by the parliament with the approval of the states only.

The structure of the Parliament in the union and the structure of the Legislative Assembly in the state are similar. The Parliament has control over the executive of the union; similarly the Legislative Assembly enjoys control over the Chief Minister and the State Council of Ministers.

It is interesting to note that MP usually belongs to the lower house of parliament in many countries. The member from the upper house may be called senators and the upper houses are called senates. It is likely that the members of parliament form parliamentary parties with members of the same political party.

As far as the qualifications of an MLA are concerned they are almost the same as those prescribed for the MPs. Any person can become an MLA is he is not less than 25 years of age. It is mandatory for a person to be a voter himself in the state if he or she is to become the member of the legislative assembly of that state.

In Brief:

A member of parliament refers to all the members of the Sansad in the Indian Parliament whether in the Lok Sabha or in the Rajya Sabha.

A member of legislative assembly refers to the representative elected by the people to the State legislative assembly.

The MP represents a larger constituency than a MLA.

Any person eligible to become a MP is also eligible to become a MLA. However it is mandatory for a person to be a voter himself in the state to become a MLA of that state